Angami language

Angami Language

The Angami language is a Tibeto-Burman language spoken by the Angami Naga people in the Naga Hills of Nagaland, a state in northeastern India. It is one of the major languages of the Naga people, who are known for their rich cultural heritage and history.

Classification

The Angami language belongs to the Angami–Pochuri languages group, which is a part of the larger Sino-Tibetan language family. This family includes a wide range of languages spoken across East Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of South Asia.

Geographic Distribution

Angami is primarily spoken in the Kohima District of Nagaland, which is the traditional homeland of the Angami people. The language is also spoken in some parts of the neighboring districts.

Dialects

The Angami language has several dialects, which can vary significantly from one village to another. Some of the notable dialects include:

• Khonoma
• Kohima
• Mao

Each dialect has its own unique features, but they are generally mutually intelligible.

Phonology

Angami has a rich phonological system with a variety of consonants and vowels. The language is tonal, meaning that the pitch or tone of a word can change its meaning. There are typically three tones: high, mid, and low.

Consonants

The consonant inventory includes stops, nasals, fricatives, and approximants. Some of the consonants are:

• /p/, /t/, /k/
• /m/, /n/
• /s/, /ʃ/
• /l/, /r/

Vowels

The vowel system includes:

• /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/

Grammar

Angami is an agglutinative language, meaning that it uses affixes to express grammatical relations and meanings. The language has a subject-object-verb (SOV) word order, which is common among Tibeto-Burman languages.

Nouns

Nouns in Angami can be marked for number and case. Plurality is often indicated by a suffix.

Verbs

Verbs are inflected for tense, aspect, and mood. The language uses a variety of prefixes and suffixes to convey these grammatical categories.

Writing System

The Angami language is traditionally an oral language, but it has been transcribed using the Latin script. Efforts have been made to develop a standardized orthography to facilitate literacy and education.

Cultural Significance

The Angami language is an integral part of the Angami Naga identity. It is used in traditional songs, stories, and rituals. The language plays a crucial role in the transmission of cultural knowledge and practices.

Current Status

The Angami language is considered vulnerable due to the influence of dominant languages such as English and Hindi. However, there are ongoing efforts to revitalize the language through education and cultural programs.

See Also

• Naga people
• Languages of India
• Tibeto-Burman languages

References

• Ethnologue: Angami
• Glottolog: Angami